CVE-2018-14968 in EMLsoft
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in EMLsoft 5.4.5. upload\eml\action\action.address.php has SQL Injection via the numPerPage parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14968 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within EMLsoft version 5.4.5, specifically affecting the upload\emlctionction.address.php component. This issue arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization practices within the application's parameter handling mechanisms. The vulnerability is triggered when the numPerPage parameter is manipulated by an attacker, allowing malicious SQL commands to be executed within the database context of the affected application.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper parameter binding and input validation within the PHP script. When the numPerPage parameter is submitted to the address.php endpoint, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before incorporating it into SQL query construction. This creates an environment where attacker-controlled data can directly influence the SQL execution flow, enabling unauthorized database access, data manipulation, or even complete system compromise depending on the database permissions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper validation or escaping mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain deeper access to the underlying system infrastructure. An attacker could potentially extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, or business-critical information stored within the database. The vulnerability also poses risks for data integrity compromise, allowing for unauthorized modifications or deletions of critical records. Additionally, the exploitation could lead to denial of service conditions or serve as a foothold for further attacks within the network infrastructure.
Security mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application codebase. The immediate fix involves updating the address.php script to utilize prepared statements with bound parameters, ensuring that user input cannot influence the SQL query structure. Organizations should also implement comprehensive web application firewalls and input sanitization mechanisms to detect and prevent malicious parameter injection attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, following established security frameworks such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1190 technique for exploiting SQL injection, emphasizing the need for robust database security controls and proper input validation practices.